Star Anise
SpiceWinterUsed in ~11 drinks
Star anise delivers a bold, sweet licorice punch with a warm, woody backbone that distinguishes it from its herbaceous cousin fennel. Its flavor is robust and slightly resinous, carrying a distinctive warmth that makes it a natural partner for dark spirits, mulled preparations, and Asian-inflected cocktails. As both a garnish and an infusion element, the whole pod brings visual drama alongside its potent anethol-driven aromatics.
Aroma
Intensely sweet anise on the nose with a warm, woody resin quality — more concentrated and less green than fennel, with a faint clove-like undertone.
Source Ingredients
whole star anise podsstar anise tinctureChinese five-spicepastisabsintheanise-flavored spiritsstar anise syrup